Rosie Huntington-Whiteley M&S lingerie ad not ‘sexually explicit’

A Marks & Spencer outdoor ad for supermodel Rosie Huntington-Whiteley’s underwear range has avoided censure following complaints it was “sexually explicit” and “degrading to women”.

MandS lingerie ad

Complainants took issue with three ads, which showed Huntington-Whiteley posing in the bras and knickers she designed for the retailer’s “Rosie for Autograph” sub-brand.

The Advertising Standards Authority rejected seven complaints, ruling M&S “responsibly” displayed the lingerie for sale. The watchdog claimed consumers would not view the ads as “gratuitous” as partial nudity is accepted as necessary in lingerie ads.

Complaints the ads were unsuitable to be displayed where children could see them were also dismissed after the ASA received evidence M&S had insisted the ads would not appear near schools.

In its defence, M&S denied it had used “overtly sexual imagery or other inappropriate means” and had deliberately not “shown Rosie as being overtly sexy”.

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